A team of international researchers has published a new study in Nature Communications Engineering detailing the creation of a novel biosensor for detecting lead in drinking water.

Known as the PlomBOX measurement platform, the system captures the biosensor’s colour-change response to lead, automating the detection, analysis, and visualisation of results. It is capable of detecting lead concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion, aligning with the upper limit for safe drinking water set by the World Health Organisation.

A key advantage of this technology is its simplicity and accessibility. Unlike existing methods for detecting lead, the biosensor does not require expensive laboratory equipment or specialised training, making it ideally suited for use in resource-limited settings and by non-expert users.

Our local team at RHUL (Adriana Dias, Alexander Deisting and Jocelyn Monroe), collaborated with teams of biologists, physicists and electrical engineers from Argentina (Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCUYO) and Instituto Nacional del Agua (INA)) and Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)). This collaborative effort highlights the global importance of tackling water quality issues through innovative engineering solutions.

By combining advanced biotechnology with a user-friendly design, the PlomBOX platform represents a significant advance in the fight against water contamination, offering the potential for safer drinking water for communities worldwide.

Link to paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-024-00337-7